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Saudi Arabia doesn’t have an excessive amount of dedicated children’s entertainment venues. There are the expected theme parks and zoos, but parents living in or visiting the desert country might need to get a bit creative when trying to amuse their children. Because of the laws prohibiting unrelated men and women from socializing in public, be sure to check the admission rules for any facility before going.

Theme Parks

Just as in any other country, children in Saudi Arabia can spend an exiting and exhausting day at a theme park. The most popular of Saudi Arabia’s theme parks is the Al Shallal Theme Park (alshallal.com.sa), located in Jeddah. Al Shallal has special rides for younger children, but the older ones can enjoy the country’s largest roller coaster. Sail Island Aqua Park (sail-island.com) is another of the city’s theme parks. As the name suggests, it’s a water park complete with both water and sand facilities, an arcade and a theater.

Zoos

A trip to the zoo can be both a fun and educational experience. Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Zoo (zoo.com.sa) originally opened in 1957 as a place to house gifts given to the first three Saudi kings. Since its opening, the zoo has become the most popular attraction in the city and was expanded and modernized in 1987. While zoos in Saudi Arabia do feature animals that North American children will be familiar with, it’s also a chance to see some animals more common in the Middle East.

Beaches

Taking children to the beach in Saudi Arabia can be a slightly different experience than in North America. The most obvious difference is in beach attire. Modesty is enforced on the beach, and bathing suits are considered to be inappropriate. However, children don’t need to be wearing bathing suits to have fun in the water. Among the most popular beaches in Saudi Arabia for tourists are Sunset Beach and Half Moon Beach in the eastern part of Saudi Arabia.

Camel Rides

A Saudi alternative to horseback riding is camel riding. Saudi Arabia is a mostly desert country and the people there have a long history with camels. A camel ride along the beach is a unique experience for children visiting Saudi Arabia. It’s also an opportunity for mom and dad to get some interesting pictures.

Football Games

Playing and watching football -- soccer to North Americans -- is a popular Saudi pastime for children and adults. A trip to a local stadium to see a professional match will keep children entertained for an afternoon and maybe even help get them interested in playing the sport. In Saudi Arabia, women will only be allowed to attend football games following the completion of specially constructed balconies in Jeddah Stadium in 2014.

About the Author

Joanne Robitaille's first journalistic experience was in 1994, when she did school reports for a local newspaper, "Shoreline." Her articles now appear on various websites. Robitaille has a Bachelor of Arts in English and creative writing from the University of Windsor.